Most societies completely misunderstand yawning

Most people tend to view yawning one-dimensionally – as a sign of fatigue and particularly boredom. Scientific research has not evinced this narrow notion, instead illuminating other potential functions. Santa Maria touched on one of them. Yawning, it seems, is a form of social empathy, a subtle communication that we're feeling what our friends feel. This is why yawns are contagious, and seem to be more contagious amongst friends and family compared to acquaintances or strangers. This infectious quality doesn't just apply to humans, but to all sorts of animals. For example, a recent study found that yawning seems to help lions synchronize their movements. Moreover, as Novella noted, yawning is theorized to help keep animals alert, and to remind conspecifics to do so as well. One of the most intriguing explanations for yawning is that it helps us thermoregulate, often to keep the brain cool.